Add Your Safe Riding Tips

[OB_Falconer]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with Dirty Pete's suggestion #17:

"17. Never touch your rear brake on pavement."

If you _only_ use the front brake, you are unneccessarily forcing the bike to compress the front suspension, messing up the bike's geometry. My experience is that modulation of both brakes, especially when you're in a turn and realize (too late) that it's time to bleed off some speed, is the better choice than front brake alone.

Yes, of course, if you're panic stopping (in a straight line or otherwise), hitting the rear brake can induce a skid. So think about what you're doing and do the right thing for the circumstances at hand.

And, yes, among one of the (many) reasons I purchased the Hayabusa was that it did _not_ have linked brakes.

Falconer

 

[OB_Mr Bear]

You deer hunters out there should read my post on Defectron's accident thread.

I can't imagine not using the rear brake. I have gone using only the front brake just to see what it was like. It feels kind of like I imagine it would feel like to go to work in the morning without your pants on. It's just not all there. Hey, an extra 25% is an extra 25%. I'll take it.

 

[OB_Zleeper]

My top three safe riding tips are:

1) Humility
2) Humility
3) Humility

Humility will keep you from getting the "It won't happen to me, I can disregard the rules" attitude. Humility will help you RESPECT the machine and not get the KING KONG attitude. Humility will allow you to learn from others, as in this posting. Humility will allow you to learn from your own mistakes.

I ride pretty agressive and crazy...Every time you do and walk away, there is a tendency to pick up more of the two bad attitudes above. That's why you need to constantly fight this trend. I've never met a rider who was very brash and cocky after a serious accident. It always chilled them out somewhat, unfortunatly "a day late and a dollar short".

I read an article recently about a famous racer who was giving impressions of his highly modified Busa. I read it and said to myself "A little too cocky, not enough respect for the bike, he's going to get in trouble". Sure enough, about a week later, I read another article about him getting into a serious accident. Coincidence ?


[This message has been edited by Zleeper (edited 28 August 1999).]

 

[OB_Ian]

My tip's for safer riding, and the first one sounds very obvious, is to always look where you want to go. The bike will nearly always end up where you are looking - so if you arrive at that bend a little fast, see a tree on the outside and think, I could hit that, you probably will! Always look at the exit point of the corner or hazard you are negotiating.

Use the vanishing point on corner(where the two kerbs seem to meet) as a pointer to your safe speed - if its coming towards you, its tightening up, and you are travelling too fast. if its moving away, then corner is opening out and you can increase speed, and if its constant, then, you got it about right.

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Don't do what I did yesterday. That's my big tip of the moment.

Full balls out 300 clicks an hour plus in a frigging t-shirt...as fast as I could go on country roads for 300 miles.

I'm ashamed of myself. Remorse remorse!

Crap I've got 2 little daughters. I know the rules and I just flouted them.

I had all the best intentions until my buddy arrived at my house in his t-shirt. We agreed that we would take it a little easier because the high heat was "forcing" us into t-shirts, then we got on our bikes and went out of our minds for 300 miles.

This makes me a degenerate hypocrite. I read all the good advice in this thread, do my best to contribute my own safety tips, then my evil twin gets on my Hayabusa and roars off into the distance, cackling.

Anyone else suffer from this disease?

I do believe it's the disease Zleeper was referring to 2 posts north of here.



[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 30 August 1999).]

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

Because of all the discussion on this thread about rear vs front braking I (the most avid proponent of front-only braking on pavement) have been forcing myself to use front AND rear under almost all conditions as a skills-improvement experiment for the past few days.

I must confess that I like it under relaxed conditions. Definitely makes for a more composed suspension under most circumstances, and higher deceleration when you're just concentrating on stopping to the exclusion of all else.

But after trying your suggestions (and isn't that what this forum is for?) I'm staying with my front-only rule because I believe that in a highly stressed situation such as racing or a road emergency, I'm better off with a lower rider workload and zero possiblity of rear skidding.

One little item: for those who also only use front on pavement, it's important to use your rear heavily once in a while whether you like it or not to burn off the road crap that accumulates on an unused rear rotor. Unless you do that, you won't really have much of a rear brake at all when you do need it, like with a passenger or in the dirt.



[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 01 September 1999).]

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

I just looked at emattson's first post on this thread and noticed his point #9 "Dogs dogs dogs!"

I have a great way handle attack mutts.

When they go after you, they instinctively, being prey chasers, set up an interception trajectory on you. If you stay at steady speed, they'll meet you and you'll have to kick the chien in the face, which is a distraction.

When you see a mutt on interception course, apply some brake. The mutt will re-set its interception trajectory. Then just goose your throttle.

The mutt's hunter-killer chasing instincts short circuit and he quits.

Works for me every time.

[This message has been edited by Dirty Pete (edited 01 September 1999).]

 

[Guest]

Sounds like there is no consensus on front only vs front and rear braking. Is it reasonable to assume that no one really knows which is better. What do the drag race guys do at the end of their run ?

What's current road race practice?

 

[OB_Yngve]

Safety rules ? Awwghh dont rememer any. Just dont drink ( too much ) and drive...about all I remember.........

 

[OB_Bradbeard]

Dirty Pete! Don't kick yourself too hard. There is a time and a place for all kinds of riding. You may not have picked the most appropriate speed and attire for the roads you were driving on but you can learn from your mistake NOW and avoid learning the hard way why we wear full gear when planning to travel at high speed.

I'm 28 and just got the Hayabusa as my first bike. Everyone kept telling me I was crazy and that I was going to kill myself. I've taken a government sanctioned riding course and have been carefully gaining experience and riding responsibly at all times. The point I'm getting to is this: We can all enjoy the high speed thrill the bike provides by choosing a safe time and place. The low-end power of the bike will always be a thrill but it's the HIGH end that is the most dangerous.

I've had the bike over 300 kmph several times... and again, people keep telling me I'm crazy to drive at that speed. What people don't understand is this: The bikes are designed with hundreds of features to keep the rider safe and in control at all times. On top of that, when I ride at those speeds it's on the 407 in Toronto; it's a brand new concrete toll highway with huge straightaways. There are no cars in front of me when the bike is roaring along at top speed. I feel confident, safe and believe that I am not putting others at risk by riding under these conditions.

Choose appropriate roads and do what you will with safety in mind - your and others - at all times.

B

 

[OB_GSXRTURBO1]

There are a few GP racers who use the rear brake to "square off" the corners. It is a style of riding that lends its roots to dirt track racing. When used properly, the bike is able to accelerate earlier from the apex due to being pointed in the right direction. Point being there is a use for the rear brake in ANY application, but that does not make it correct or incorrect. Its all a matter of preference and riding style. Myself, I rarely touch the rear brake.

 

[OB_blitzn]

always keep yourself in position to see as far up the road as you can.don't stay behind vans or 18whlrs,retreads & other shite will wipe u rite out!!!

 

[OB_BUDDHA]

On that same note...never stay directly in front of them either.
I saw a guy on a harley tonight riding in the slow lane on a three lane,he had EVERYWHERE to go but he decided to be stalked by a 18 wheeler barreling behind him about 20 feet away!
I was getting bad images in my mind.